Charouleau Gap Trailhead | Wild Camping

United States

Details

Verified:
2 months ago
Altitude:
3000.0 masl
Website:
Contributor:
jim_mccabe

Amenities

Electricity:
No
Wifi:
No
Kitchen:
No
Restaurant:
No
Showers:
No
Water:
No
Toilets:
No
Big Rig Friendly:
No
Tent Friendly:
Yes
Pet Friendly:
Yes

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Description

Dirt parking staging area where trucks and trailers are left while exploring the Gap trail for a day or multi-night adventure on foot, bicycle, motorcycle or 4X4. I have not seen tents set up here, but have seen camping rigs of all sizes.

Grab a trash bag and glove and pick up before you leave - this area is maintained by volunteers and located really close to neighborhoods. Let’s do our part to keep it available to nomads.

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Latest Check-Ins

Busier than last time I was here. A lot more trash too. One of the few free places around, please pick up your trash!

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Great views, tons of wildlife (coyote, javelinas, mule deer, birds). No services, entry is a bit rough even for shorter vans.

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This place is amazing. But it's really tight, not big rig friendly.
Very quiet, if you drive a bit away from the road.

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1 night stay with beautiful views, quiet. picked up some trash, otherwise, clean. parked near the back for a great view. one other RV. road is easy/ flat.

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Excellent spot! Flat, quiet, beautiful. No road signage. Turn right at the cattle guard.

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Great spot. Several flat dirt sites. Lovely cacti. Dog friendly. Quiet, little road noise. Great view.

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Second time back to this area. Excellent spots, level, big rig friendly, roads were in good enough shape to maneuver, great views, etc.

Lots of trash compared to one year ago. Grab a trash bag and glove and pickup before you leave - this area is maintained by volunteers and located really close to neighborhoods. Let’s do our part to keep it available to nomads.

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Lots of dirt roads with pull outs or roundabouts for camping. Saw a few other people here. You could tent camp here, though a level spot could be a tough find. The beginning grate is not level and we hit our gear box on our hitch coming in. Just something to be aware of. Overall beautiful and quiet!

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Stayed here 2 nights and found a level enough spot for our 22' trailer in the main parking area, you can go further back if you have a van, also if you go right after the cattle guard and pass the main parking area there is another pull through spot that could fit a truck and trailer or longer motor home. Verizon signal was not great, but had several bars, a fair amount of traffic on the road next to parking lot during the day, but quiet at night. I would stay here again if biking/hiking nearby trails or visiting catalina state park. We checked the nearby 50 yr trail dispersed camping but it was not trailer friendly, ok for vans or truck campers though. There were at least 4-5 vans camping both nights we were here, we had no issues.

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Lots of places to pull off with privacy. Pretty busy with AM ATV traffic. I found none of the trash, etc previously mentioned. Nice welcoming neighbor.

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When entering, go over the cattle guard, turn right, go East through the first circle and head a 1/4 mile on flat ground across the park (dirt road) to discover three or four spacious campsites with fire rings. We enjoyed our one night here. A curious bull came by around sunset to sniff us out, but moved on without Incident. It’s quiet here. Could hear coyotes howling in the distance few times during the night. Great Mountain view.

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Great spot for dispursed camping. Cross over cattle grate, stay right of message boards (4x4/ATV trail begins at left). Several spots for trucks & trailers staging upfront near fence. Camping: drive back through/around brush...last night 8 vans with plenty of privacy & fire rings. The lucky ones park farthest from road...but all we've heard are a few coyotes (exciting!) and seen 6-8 cows grazing.

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Dirty place! Just a dirt parking lot. Close to town. Had my camp surrounded by ATVs making dust and noise. Human waist all over. My van got broken into while I was on a hike. Stole my I pad and some camping gear.

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Large dispursed camping area. No services. Great for pickups, Jeeps, and off-road Vans. A lot of cactus and small shrubs...makes for some skinny roads. Trailhead is nearby...Watch for Razors, Side-by-side...we even saw two riders on horseback. Trailers maybe able to get into the area, and park near front entry (along fence). We saw deer, chipmunk, wrens, and one Javelina.

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This spot was absolutely beautiful!! The dirt road when you turn in can be a bit rough so be careful, saw suv and car campers make it in fine. Didn’t see a sign for no camping or limit but only stayed 2 nights. Great cell service (att) , some road noise during day & atvers

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Such a great spot! After entering over the grate bridge turn immediately right and drive thru the circle and you’ll see a road with five spots to park (some with fire pits, some without). Also, there are two spots right by the entrance of the 4x4 trail. Beautiful location with amazing views of the mountains. Some light traffic noise if you park in the first spot but the road is very quiet at night. It’s fun to walk the 4x4 trails. We ended up coming back here again we enjoyed it so much.

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Great spot at the foothills! Best for self-contained rigs as there are no facilities. Safe place and great location.

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Stayed two nights without issue. There were three of four other vehicle in the area each night. if you drive down the road on the opposite side of the circle there are 3 or 4 private pullouts. 4 bars of Verizon.

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Didn’t explore too much but there’s an immediate circle of spots right when you pull in however some bigger rigs and trailers for 4x4s were parked there. Instead of going immediate left or right, go straight back through the circle and there’s a road to multiple pull outs. The left and right after the grate were washed out and would need a 4x4 to get down unless you’re very confident in your car.
Good spot for overnight and I worked during the day. Very quiet with only one car passing but can hear neighborhood cars about 300 yards away. Great sunset, ok sunrise over the mountains. Cell service was fine for work!

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Stayed 3 nights. No hassles, great views, and flat parking.

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One of my favorite places I've stayed thus far. Lush vegetation all around, cattle in the valley below, lots of birds, quiet. there were some dirt bikers in the mornings but they were conscientious and mostly rode far from the trailhead. Highly recommended.

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If you want to be close to Catalina State Park and its lovely hiking opportunities, this is the place! About 15 minutes or so from the Park.
Commanding mountain views! Also good exploring in the land you’re camped in. A local man with two labrador dogs came around both nights I stayed here and was very friendly and said the community across the street doesn’t mind campers here and that it’s common for people to stay here for over two weeks.
The first night there was a truck/trailer, truck with camper shell, and suv boondocking. Second night 2 truck campers and a car. Third night was a few car campers I believe.
To get to where I stayed: cross over the grate and go immediately to your right, follow this a short way to a big round open area on the left, don’t go down the 4x4 hill. I parked next to the fire pit. Be careful exiting over the grate, scraped the underside of my bus.
4x4 not needed unless you go further down the trails, unsure if camping opportunities exist there.

*** please note: the entrance area has a grate you have to drive over. The ground on the side of the grate further from the road has a large dip. This isn’t problematic going in as long as you line up your tires properly. Going out however can be a little more difficult deep if only your clearance as you’ll notice exiting is harder to line up straight toward the grate. I bottomed out two out of the three times I exited.

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Slept two nights here, great spot, super quiet.

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Dirt parking staging area where trucks and trailers are left while exploring the Gap trail for a day or multi night adventure on foot, bicycle, motorcycle or 4X4. I have not seen tents setup here, but have seen camping rigs of all sizes.

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